A CENTURY-old primary school could be added to a council’s local list of heritage assets.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning and highways committee members approved new windows for the “magnificent” 104-year-old Ashleigh Primary School building in Ross Street, Darwen.

Committee chairman Cllr Dave Smith put the suggestion forward after saying it would not meet the criteria for national listing but was a perfect example of the type of building to list locally.

Although not legally protected from demolition or development without specific permission like fully nationally-listed buildings such as King George’s Hall and Blackburn Cathedral, any changes will be given special consideration in the planning process.

Cllr Smith said: “If the building is so magnificent, it’s worth looking at maybe getting it listed.

“Many generations of people from Darwen went to school there. My dad actually went to school there.”

Regeneration chief Cllr Phil Riley said: “Local listing is about buildings in the borough of which we are proud.

“Obviously it would not get over the line in terms of the heritage demands for national listing.”

In 2015, the council began the process of creating a list of “historic and interesting” buildings in Blackburn and Darwen for special protection.

A batch of 24 buildings including the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Clayton Street, Blackburn, the town’s Soho Foundry in Cicely Lane, Little Harwood War Memorial, Darwen Vale School and Astley Bank in Darwen were the first to make the grade.

Other buildings classed as local list heritage assets include Blackburn Fire Station in Byrom Street, Woodfield Mill in Darwen, Feniscowles Old Hall in Pleasington, and The Barlow Institute and bowling green in Edgworth.